By the time December was upon Hogwarts, many things had changed for the seventh year Gryffindor class. James and Sirius had gotten their acceptance letters to the Auror program a couple of days after Sirius's eighteenth birthday. To everyone's surprise, Alice had applied as well, and received her acceptance at the same time. She'd shrugged when asked, and said that she hadn't wanted anyone to know unless she was actually accepted, but that she wanted to do anything she could to fight back against Voldemort – especially after what had happened to Lily's parents. Around the same time, Lily had accepted a position working with a local apothecary in Diagon Alley. She was going to train under the Master Potion Maker, and take her own exam in the next couple of years.
Adeline had been offered a position working with Gringotts in their curse breaking department – she was going to be a part of their archaeologist team and had been stationed in the London office for her training. She imagined that once her training was complete, about a year from graduation, she would be sent abroad on a specific project. She was happy that, for now, she would be close to all of her friends. She was most excited, however, that she and Mary had signed a lease for an apartment of their own – a cute little walk up in an area of London near St. Mungo's. Mary was going to work as a receptionist at St. Mungo's while she took night classes for their Healer program and it was an easy commute for Adeline into Diagon Alley. Sirius, who had inherited an enormous amount of gold from his Uncle Alphard when he'd passed in October, had bought a flat in the heart of Diagon Alley. He'd tried his best to get Adeline to agree to move in, but she'd been insistent that they each needed their own space.
Perhaps the biggest development was the friendship that had blossomed between James and Lily. They spent most evenings together, their heads pushed together as they worked on patrol schedules, helped each other with assignments, and discovered a shared love of licorice wands. James had really laid off Lily, and hadn't asked her out at all since term had started. Lily, for her part, had been considerably nicer to James than she'd ever been before. It was nice, seeing them together, being friends. Adeline wished it'd happened sooner, that they hadn't wasted six years in a twisted battle and had been able to spend more time together.
Mid-December was upon them, and Hogwarts was in the full swing of Christmas decorating. It was a particularly chilly night, and everyone was camped out in front of the fireplace, books balanced on their laps. Sirius had his hand on Adeline's knee while he finished up an essay for Professor Slughorn on the top three poison antidotes. Adeline and Mary were skimming through a catalogue, trying to pick out furniture for their new flat; neither of them had much gold, so they were sticking to a tight budget, which was significantly harder than it had sounded when they'd first floated the idea of moving in together.
"I really like this one, but do you think we can find something at a better price?" Mary asked, biting her lip.
"Probably," Adeline sighed, turning the page to see if there were any more listed. "I really like that one too."
"Buy it," Sirius said absentmindedly, not even looking up from his parchment. His eyebrows were furrowed in concentration, and he crossed a line out from his conclusion.
"Sirius…" Adeline sighed again.
"What?" Sirius shrugged. "I have to buy you a housewarming present, don't I? Might as well be a couch."
"Sirius, that's too…"
"It's perfect!" Mary squealed, elbowing Adeline in the ribs.
"Mare," Adeline began. "We can't let Sirius furnish the loft. It's not right."
"Delle, your super hunky boyfriend wants to buy you a couch – let him. I don't want to come home after work and sit on a piece of shit to drink my wine. I want to come home from work, see my best friend, and have a comfy place to drink away my problems," Mary insisted.
"I already let him buy me a bed!" Adeline protested.
"Oi, that's just as much for me as it is for you," Sirius interjected, looking up from his essay. "I've got back pain, and I need somewhere nice to sleep when I come over."
"Please, you two won't be doing much sleeping," Mary rolled her eyes. "I, on the other hand, will need something nicer than my childhood bed, and I don't have a rich boyfriend to supply one." Adeline blushed deep scarlet; her and Sirius still hadn't slept together, and she was definitely too embarrassed to tell her friends so now. It was time, she knew that. Sirius had been dropping more and more hints, that he was ready whenever she was. She was ready – she just needed to find the right time to tell him so.
"Anyway, just take it out of my vault," Sirius continued, glancing over at the catalogue briefly. "Delle knows the number."
"Perfect," Mary said with finality, marking it off on the order form. "Thanks, Sirius. You're a lifesaver. Hey, fancy kicking in for a coffee table?"
"Mary!" Adeline exclaimed, pulling the catalogue away from her. "We have everything we need. Anything else, we'll save up for."
Mary rolled her eyes, but kicked her feet up on the table and pulled a book out of her rucksack. Adeline turned to Sirius. "You don't have to do that. I wanted to do this on my own," she said softly, but she smiled at the same time. She leaned up to kiss him on the cheek. "But thank you."
Sirius hummed softly, finishing up his essay and rolling it with a flourish. "Well, that's me done for tonight."
"Anyone know where James is?" Remus asked. He was sitting in one of the armchairs next to Peter, both working on an assignment for Professor McGonagall. "He was supposed to help me with this, and I haven't seen him all day."
"He and Lily disappeared after breakfast," Peter said, his tongue sticking out through his teeth in concentration.
"They've been doing that a lot lately, huh?" Sirius said. He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, and Mary sighed.
"Lily insists they're just working on their Head duties, but she's been super happy lately. It's honestly a little nauseating." Mary said with a grimace.
"If only we had a way to check where they are," Sirius said wistfully, exchanging a significant look with Remus.
"If only," Remus said simply, looking back down at his parchment.
"If only," Sirius repeated with a smirk. Remus raised his eyes and shook his head slightly, to which Sirius merely winked.
"What in the devil are you two talking about?" Mary snapped impatiently.
"Nothing," Sirius and Remus both said quickly. Adeline looked at Sirius suspiciously, but let the subject drop.
They returned a little before midnight, and told Sirius and Adeline, who'd waited up for them, that they'd had to take care of a situation with two of the prefects. They'd quickly changed the subject with Adeline had pressed for more information. Adeline followed Lily upstairs and pretended to ignore the guilty look she wore.
This became nearly a nightly occurrence with James and Lily. Usually, they were back before curfew, but sometimes they came rushing in a couple of minutes afterwards, James shoving something into his rucksack. Everyone pretended that they didn't know what was going on, but the way James and Lily looked at each other made it pretty hard to ignore.
Lily and James still hadn't returned by midnight, and Adeline was starting to get nervous. Patrols were usually over by then, and she was sure that they weren't even on the schedule to begin with. Even if they were somewhere fooling around, they'd never been this late before and Adeline was sure that even a love struck Lily wouldn't want to break the rules. Peter, Mary and Alice had gone to bed, but Remus and Sirius had decided to stay up and wait for them to return.
An hour later, Adeline was in a full blown panic. "Sirius…" she said. "Do you have a way to find them?"
Sirius exchanged a look with Remus, who sighed but nodded reluctantly. "Be right back, love," Sirius said as he hopped off the couch. He walked swiftly towards the stairs to the boy's dormitory before taking the steps three at a time. A minute later, he came running back downstairs, his footsteps heavy.
He was clearly excited, his body thrumming with unrestrained energy. In his hands, was an old bit of parchment. "I've been wanting to do this all term, but Remus kept insisting it was an invasion of privacy."
"It is," Remus snapped gently. "But I think this time, we have to. I want to make sure they weren't attacked by any Slytherins."
Adeline looked between Sirius and Remus, convinced that they had lost it. How was a yellowing, crumpled, bit of parchment going to help them find James and Lily?
"I couldn't find the cloak," Sirius said. "Think we should still go?"
"I think so, at least one of us," Remus nodded. "James probably has it."
"Wanker knows that he should let us know before he takes the cloak with him," Sirius shook his head in disappointment.
"It's his cloak," Remus smirked, "not communal property."
"Oi, I'm basically Charlus's son too, right? Should be half mine, at any rate."
"You are exceptionally big headed," Remus rebutted.
Sirius was about to respond, when Adeline put her hand up. "Excuse me, but could one of you explain how that parchment is going to help us find James and Lily? And what cloak are you talking about?"
Sirius jumped slightly, as though he'd forgotten that Adeline was in the room with them. "Sorry, love. This here, is one of the Marauder's greatest inventions."
Adeline snorted. "What, this old thing?"
Sirius's eyes widened in mock outrage. "Delle, this is much more than an old bit of parchment. This…is the Marauder's map!"
"Okay…" Adeline said. It was clear that she was supposed to be impressed, but she had no idea what Sirius was getting at.
"Show her," Remus said, nodding towards the map.
Sirius nodded. He pulled his wand out of his back pocket, and tapped it on the parchment. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
At once, lines starting forming on the parchment, making the outline of what Adeline could only guess was the entire castle. She stepped closer to take a better look, and saw that it was, in fact, a map of the entire castle. But it didn't stop there – she could see that every single person who was currently within the castle grounds was reflected on the map. Their exact locations were noted; most were tucked safely away in their dormitories, fast asleep, but Adeline could see that there were a couple of professors still awake. Professor McGonagall was patrolling the eighth floor, Professor Dumbledore was pacing in his office, and Filch was making his rounds.
"This is…" Adeline trailed off.
"Incredible, right?" Sirius said, reverently. "We created it back in our fourth year. Damn useful for pulling off a prank."
Adeline took the map gently from Sirius's hands, her eyes roaming in awe. "But…this is incredibly advanced magic. I can't even begin to fathom how you pulled it off – especially in the fourth year."
"Well, I'm not going to take credit for it or anything, but I did suggest the…" Sirius preened.
"Sirius," Remus cut him off. "There." He pointed to a spot on the map. Lily and James's dots were standing completely still in a classroom in the dungeons.
"Shit," Sirius cursed. "Think they were attacked?"
"Only one way to find out." Remus pushed himself out of his chair, reaching down to his rucksack to grab his wand. "Come on."
"Right, Delle, we'll see you when we get back," Sirius said, kissing Adeline on the cheek.
Adeline rolled her eyes and grabbed her own wand. "I'm coming with you."
"Delle," Sirius protested, but Adeline merely pushed around him and walked out of the portrait hole. "Fuck."
Remus had the map out, and was checking to see if anyone was coming their way. "We're clear," he said. "This way."
Adeline followed Remus down a hidden passageway down the hall from their common room, and Sirius trailed behind them, still cursing to himself.
"Sirius, please shut up. You're being too loud. You're going to get us caught." Adeline pulled the curtain back on the hidden staircase and slipped down before Sirius could answer. They made it down two floors before Sirius responded.
"Well, if you'd just stayed behind, like I'd wanted you to." He pushed his hair behind his ear in irritation and opened his mouth to continue, but Remus cut him off.
"Shhh," he hissed. "Filch is on this floor."
Sirius managed to stop his complaining, and they made it the rest of the way downstairs in silence. As they were about to pull open the door to the dungeons, Sirius threw his arm out to stop Adeline. She huffed in irritation, but he shot her a look so deadly that she clamped her mouth shut. "Someone's down here."
Adeline glanced at him, confused. Remus still held the map firmly in his hands. "How do…"
"Shhh," Sirius hissed, clamping his hand over her mouth. "They're close."
Adeline didn't struggle, although she desperately wanted to. Something in the way Sirius spoke convinced her that he was right – someone was coming.
After a minute in which all three of them held their breaths, Sirius nodded. "They're gone. Come on."
Remus went first, pushing open the portrait that led into the damp dungeon. Sirius followed, pulling Adeline by the hand.
"It was Slughorn," Remus said after a checking behind to see that they'd followed. "Went back to his room."
"How did you know someone was there?" Adeline whispered.
"Smell." Sirius said it simply, matter of factly, as though it should have been obvious. Adeline was startled – it had never crossed her mind that Sirius's senses might be enhanced due to his animagus abilities.
"Come on. It's just up here." Remus hurried ahead, his footsteps echoing slightly louder in his haste.
He pushed open the door to the classroom, referencing the map one last time. Sirius rushed in next, choking out a laugh once he saw what Lily and James were doing.
"Padfoot! Moony!" James jumped backwards, pulling pants back up hastily and getting tangled in the feet. He tripped slightly, but caught himself on the wall. Lily had turned around, upon their entrance, crossing her arms in front of her to shield her bra from Remus and Sirius's view.
Sirius was beside himself, holding the stitch in his side as he roared with laughter. He was bent over at the waist, tears streaming down his face. Remus was standing shock still, his eyes round as he stood frozen staring at James and Lily. Adeline brought a hand up to her mouth, covering her grin. She broke however, when James turned back to them, his fly down and his cheeks blazing red.
"What…I mean…what are you lot…" James sputtered.
Lily had managed to throw her shirt back on, and had turned with a look of equal embarrassment. Upon seeing her face, Remus turned his back, somewhat belatedly seeing as she was fully dressed.
"No fucking way," Sirius roared. "You two really are shagging!"
"What the fuck are you doing here?" James asked, weakly, his blush deepening.
"We were worried about you," Adeline said, trying to hide her grin. "Obviously, we didn't need to be."
"I don't know about you," Sirius began, still chuckling, "but this actually makes me more worried about Lily – how badly are you confounded if you're actually shagging Prongs?"
Lily stepped forward, her eyes blazing. Gone was her embarrassed look, and in its place was steely determination. "Yeah, James and I are together. I'm not embarrassed about it, and you lot can make fun of us as much as you want, but that's not going to change anything."
James looked down at her, the widest grin Adeline had ever seen gracing his lips. He was staring at her with so much love and affection, his eyes radiating warmth. He pressed his lips against her temple, tangling their hands together. Lily smiled back at him, her own eyes reflecting the warmth in his.
Even Sirius had nothing to say to interrupt this tender moment, instead tangling his hand with Adeline's, bringing her hand up to his mouth and pressing a kiss against the back of it. Adeline's heart swelled, and she smiled at Sirius warmly.
"I really hate to break this up, but Mr. Filch is down the hallway," Remus said sharply, his eyes roaming the map, looking for a way for the group to get away without getting caught.
Lily's eyes widened. "We can't get caught! We're Head Boy and Girl!"
James floundered for a second for something in his bag, pulling out a silvery cloak.
"Go," Sirius demanded. "We'll be fine, go! Adeline – you too."
"I, what?" Adeline sputtered, as James pulled her roughly towards him and Lily. He threw the cloak over the three of them, and Adeline gasped as her body disappeared. "What the fuck?"
"Shhh," James hissed, clamping a hand over her mouth, as Remus muttered, "Mischief Managed," and tapped the map.
He was just in time, for the next moment, Filch had burst through the door into the chamber. "Aha!" He squealed. "I knew I heard something. You're done now, Black – Lupin. What's that?"
With horror, Adeline realized that he was gesturing to the now wiped map that Remus was clutching in his hands.
"Oh, just a…spare bit of parchment?" Remus said weakly, trying to fold the map back up and shove it into his pocket. But Filch wasn't to be deterred.
"Hand it over," he demanded, his hand outstretched. Remus hesitated, and Filch snapped his fingers impatiently. "Now!"
Reluctantly, Remus handed the parchment over. Filch examined it every which way, but didn't pull out a wand or attempt to find out the parchment's secrets. After a moment, he sighed, but pulled the map out of the reach of Sirius's outstretched hand. "I don't think so, Black. I'll be keeping this. You two will be coming with me, I think a nice round of detentions for being out past curfew are in order."
He herded the two out of the chamber. Sirius looked over his shoulder towards the corner where James, Lily and Adeline were hiding, and winked inconspicuously. James kept his hand over her mouth until he was sure Filch had gone.
When he'd dropped his hand, Adeline turned around on him, furiously. "What the fuck, Potter?" She demanded, irritably.
"The cloak only makes us invisible, it doesn't mask sound. Pretty sure even Filch would notice if disembodied cursing starting echoing from the corner of the room," James explained, rolling his eyes. "Now come on, let's head back to the common room. Sirius and Remus will meet us there."
The trio made their way back to the common room quickly and quietly. They waited in silence for Remus and Sirius to come back, which took significantly longer than they'd been anticipating. Adeline was nearly sleeping by the time they returned, her head cradled in her hands as she lounged on the couch.
Sirius slammed the portrait hole open violently, clambering in with a murderous expression on his face. Remus trailed him, looking exhausted, but calm.
"That tosser gave us three detentions each! Told us we had to get them done over the break – is that even legal? Is he allowed to make us stay here for break?" Sirius complained, dropping down next to Adeline on the couch. "Our last Christmas break, and we have to stay here."
"We always stay for Christmas break," James said, confused.
"Well, yeah," Sirius admitted. "But I've never had to do detentions when I'm supposed to be on holiday. It's not right."
"I'm just upset that we lost the map," Remus said, sadly.
James shrugged, looking between the two other Marauders. "Maybe it was time? We're graduating soon – maybe it's time we put pranking behind us. And who knows – maybe a future generation of pranksters will stumble upon it, and use it to facilitate their own era of rule breaking."
Remus, Sirius and James all smiled at each other, fondly, thinking about a future in which a group of students found their map…and continued their legacy.
Lily and Adeline looked at each other, and rolled their eyes. They both agreed that the men they loved were fucking insane.